Something interesting, I'm very interested how would you respond to this statement:
This is your first position upon graduation from The School of Nursing and receiving your license as a registered nurse. You are working as an RN with an LPN who has been on the unit for 20 years. On your first day she says to you, "The only difference between you and me is the size of the paycheck."
Demonstrate how you would respond to this statement, using assertive communication techniques.
Yeah, in my state the only thing LPNs can't do is IV pushes, parenteral nutrition, blood transfusions and admission assessments -- although in SNFs and LTCs LPNs can do assessments as long as an RN will sign off on them.
It's a trick question. The issue is not who has the better credentials, who is the better nurse, who earns more money or what is the difference between RN or LPN, etc. etc.
It's about turf. And place. And if this conversation is taking place it is most likely taking place in an LTC or SNF or an LTAC, and the LPN in question has probably been working in that facility since the foundations were poured, and has probably seen many RNs come through and move on to bigger and better things.
So the LPN is throwing down the guantlet and it's a nasty thing to do. But I've seen LPNs run RNs out of facilities and even though it sucks and it's wrong, it brings up some really interesting discussions for RNs about how the heck do you handle these toxic and disrespectful personalities?
It is not an LPN/RN thing. An RN who approaches it from that point of view is going to have a lot of problems.
I've seen these same dynamics come up between CNAs and nurses too.
You have to lay some foundation of respect and build from there. Honestly, this issue is one part of being an RN that I do not envy all you guys.
To HopeitworksDNP. First, put the boxing gloves away please. 2nd please know that I have nothing against LPNs. I work with a lot of good LPNs that know their stuff. I don't know what state you're in and I admit I don't know every states law as far as the scope of practice for the RNs vs LPNs. However in FLORIDA, as I stated in my earlier post...our LPNs aren't legally allowed to do IV pushes, aren't legally allowed to take telephone orders either, and aren't legally allowed to document in the assessment section of the patients medical record although they can freetext their assessment in a note. Also in FLORIDA, the LPN can't start a blood transfusion....they can only monitor it after the RN has already initiated it and watched the pt for the 1st 15 min. I know b/c I've had to assess the LPNs pt, start her blood transfusion, take her telephone orders, give her morphine IV q3h, sign off her rhythm strips, etc. Quite frankly, if I'm going to have to do all of that...just give me the patient. B/c of this most of the LPNs on the floor where I used to work have either become RNs or are in the process of becoming a RN. And I've met both nasty RNs and LPNs....my sister is a LPN so I don't have anything against them. New grad RNs definitely shouldn't sell out...don't sell out til you know what you're doing...but the point is that the LPN in the OP's post was completely out of line...end of story. And I would hope in a code situation that you'd be more concerned about saving your patient than trying to get back at a nurse....leave the pettiness on the sidelines. Nonetheless, OP learn from the more experienced nurses on your unit...including the LPNs...take advantage of everyone's brain. I know that at a SNF, you may have nothing but LPNs on the floor and one RN supervising...some of those LPNs know their stuff. Try to not give into the pettiness...although sometimes you'll have to stand your ground. Good luck.
Something interesting, I'm very interested how would you respond to this statement:
This is your first position upon graduation from The School of Nursing and receiving your license as a registered nurse. You are working as an RN with an LPN who has been on the unit for 20 years. On your first day she says to you, "The only difference between you and me is the size of the paycheck."
Demonstrate how you would respond to this statement, using assertive communication techniques.
I would say.....you have received lots of interesting answers to help you do your homework.
Even though I did my homework the old fashioned way back in the 1980s... I still respect everything any nursing discipline brings to the table, from home care assistants through lay caregivers, certified nursing aids, LPNs, RNs, NPs - lets face it, relatives are also a valuable mine of information...
No one can ever know everything, and we should feel privileged that we have so many resources to draw upon.
:eek:
Reno1978, BSN, RN
1,133 Posts